Bengaluru police haven't arrested a single ‘producer’ of narcotics in two years

Data presented by Home Minister G. Parameshwara in the recently concluded Karnataka Legislature session shows that the Bengaluru City Police haven't arrested a single “producer” of narcotics in 2024 and 2025, targeting only peddlers and consumers.

This gains significance in the light of how Mumbai police followed up on a peddler’s arrest there and unearthed three synthetic drug manufacturing units in Bengaluru last week. The Maharashtra Police had similarly dismantled a drug manufacturing unit in Mysuru in July earlier this year.

Mysuru police have also not arrested a single “producer” in 2024 and 2025, which is true across the State. While 5,901 cases were booked during this period, it led to the arrest of 3,961 peddlers, 4,741 consumers, and only 90 producers. Sources said that most of these producers arrested are those growing ganja in their fields and not those manufacturing synthetic drugs.

This indicates that investigations into narcotics cases have rarely tried to establish the full chain of narcotics from the source to their consumers. Data also shows that following the arrest of a peddler, the focus seems to be on his/her clientele rather than the source.

It is through establishing the full chain of narcotics from the source to the consumers, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in any narcotics investigation, that the Mumbai Police busted three synthetic drugs manufacturing units in Bengaluru. Mumbai Police arrested a peddler and built up the chain of the source of the narcotics from him to a man in Belagavi and then to the three units in Bengaluru.

Hitendra R., Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) and the chief of the newly formed Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Karnataka, acknowledges the problem. “We have observed that almost all narcotics cases are suo motu cases and chargesheets are filed against a single accused. This means that the investigation has not unravelled the whole chain of the narcotics network from the source to the consumer. Investigators seem content with filing chargesheets against a single peddler. This needs to change. Investigators have to work even harder and uncover the full chain. ANTF is working towards bringing this change in the investigation and trial of narcotics cases in the State. Change is gradual, but we are definitely on that path,” he said.

A senior official in Bengaluru City Police said that in most cases of synthetic drugs, it leads them to other peddlers in Goa, Mumbai, and Delhi, and rarely have they come across manufacturers themselves. “A lot of resources are required to follow and trace the entire chain in all the cases, which we do not have,” another officer said.

Meanwhile, there have been allegations of corruption, extortion, and collusion with peddlers in narcotics probes as well. For instance, a Departmental Enquiry (DEs) has been under way against 11 policemen of Chamrajpet and J.J. Nagar Police Stations for allegedly being constantly in touch with a notorious drug peddler, Salman, and helping him in his crimes. Four policemen from Ramamurthy Nagar Police Station allegedly let go of a peddler they caught red-handed. Three police inspectors, in whose jurisdictions Mumbai Police unearthed synthetic drug manufacturing units, have now been suspended. Totally, 30 police personnel are under the cloud of suspicion and DEs pending against them in connection with narcotics cases across the State, data presented by the Home Minister shows.

For now, the oversight of ANTF, formed as per the mandate of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on August 1, 2025, has led to a jump in the number of cases booked. “ANTF is reviewing narcotics cases every month and issuing necessary directions and advice to the police commissioners and SPs. Its impact is already seen in the increase in the number of cases registered after the formation of the ANTF,” said Mr. Hitendra.

Data presented by the Home Minister shows the State recorded 3531 cases from January 1 to July 31, 2025, and from August 1 to November 30, the State booked 2,387 cases, recording a significant jump. Mr. Hitendra hopes there will be a qualitative change in the investigation and trials of narcotics cases over the next few months.